Assistance Dogs

This is an article I wrote in the early 1990's, most information still applies so you may consider it "evergreen" in that regard.

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Disability should not mean inability nor immobility!

To physically challenged people, living independently represents a dream of personal control and choices. Rather than focusing on limitations and dependency, their emphasis should be on quality of life and involvement to stress independence and activities based on self help.

One important way for the mobility challenged to gain control is through the use of assistance dogs. This includes the well recognized leader dogs for the blind; dogs who assist the hearing impaired; and dogs serving the physically challenged. These companions are literally physical extensions of their human partner. A way to achieve the "impossible dream."

Guide dogs for the blind are the eyes of their master. They work as a team and learn to overcome daily obstacles so the world opens up for the blind person.

Hearing dogs grant their owners new confidence and freedom. In this partnership, the dog uses its body to "signal" a variety of daily sounds inside and outside the home. Hearing dogs are trained to respond to everything including the morning alarm clock, a baby's cry, a telephone call, an intruder, a life-saving fire alarm, and other critical sounds. Hearing dogs signal all the sounds that most of take for granted. Dogs are trained to lead the person to the sound in all cases except the smoke detector. With the smoke alarm, the dog takes the person to the nearest exit. Training these dogs takes about four months.

The latest of the specialty trained assistance dogs is the service dog. These animals are trained to help physically challenged people. Service dogs become the arms and legs of their new companions. They retrieve and carry objects, pick them up and put them away, turn lights on and off, and assist their owner's to rise from a fall. Service dogs pull wheelchairs over all terrains, including difficult spots and curbs. Training time varies depending on the skills needed, but usually lasts between 6 - 12 months depending on the owner's needs.

Service dogs are trained to assist people in claiming their independence. It is their right to have a high quality of life regardless of physical or mental limitations. They should be free from barriers -- whether physical or judgmental. Service dogs can help develop that freedom.

Perhaps you have reached for something but could not reach it? The trained dog can retrieve it for you. Consider sitting in a wheelchair in front of, but below and just out of reach of an elevator button. The service dog can push that button for you. At the grocery store, the service dog can select and carry your purchases to the check out. Once at the check out the dog will place your goods on the counter and exchange money with the teller. In these and other situations, the dogs help people acquire mobility and independence.

Assistance dogs are not "pets" and not all dogs qualify as assistance dogs. Prospective assistance dogs are intelligent, quick, well socialized, willing to please and highly responsive. Dogs that are trained for service work are confident and controlled, but willing to submit. Bold, rammy dogs that are always charging to the front are not acceptable. The dogs should be teachable and not aggressive or domineering. They should be receptive to training and not fight the process every step of the way. Good health and ease of care, such as grooming, are also important.

Assistance dogs are put through rigorous screening, training and evaluation. Many dogs fail to qualify and others are dropped from the program at various points in the training process. Once the dogs are training, they are matched with their new partners and training the "team" begins. At the beginning of the relationship, the new owner is the only channel for all of the dog's pleasures and indeed, for everything in the dog's life. This may seem over controlling, but it protects both the dogs and the people. Most dogs are paid for through fundraising efforts and are placed free of charge to the recipients.

Unlike regular "pet-to-owner" relationships, the role of the assistance dog and the owner are reversed. This means that the dog becomes the main caregiver. The animal is responsible for the individual's safety and well-being. This unique relationship requires special formalities. These dogs are identified by a distinctive pack, scarf, collar or ID card or collar tag. When approaching an individual with a service dog, remember to always ask before you touch! Do not pet, feed or fuss over any animal that is working. A distraction could mean danger for the dog and his partner.

Dogs are also being integrated to assist those with disabilities in other ways. Therapists use them as "go betweens" to assist socially or mentally disturbed people who may be convalescing, elderly, autistic or mentally challenged. The dogs provide immediate outlets for affection and companionship while offering unconditional love.

Today, the bond between animals and humanity is more profound than ever imagined. This link is particularly true for the mobility challenged and their service dogs. The service animals enrich their lives and bring independence. Working dogs can restore lives as well as save them. This is powerful "medicine" for the soul as well as the body.

In the United States, approximately thirty five million people could be helped by the use of these dogs.

Dogs provide independence to people with a broad range of disabilities such as:

• Arteriosclerosis


• Arthritis


• Autism


• Bi-Lateral Acoustics Neurothrombosis


• Blood Disorders


• Cerebral Palsy


• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome


• Developmental Disabilities


• Rheumatoid Arthritis


• Down's Syndrome


• Epilepsy


• Hearing Impairment


• Kidney Disorders


• Lou Gehrig's Disease


• Lung Disorders


• Lupus


• Meniere's Syndrome


• Muscular Dystrophy


• Polio


• Deafness


• Spina Bifida


• Spinal Cord Injuries


• Stroke Victims

Retriever Play Training

When starting puppies on retrieving, use something light and easy to carry like a small dummy or socks stuffed with rags. Don't throw sticks, play tug-of-war games or train two pups at once letting them compete for the dummy, these practices all promote chewing and hard mouths -- things we don't want to see in pups or adult dogs.

Small dummies and socks are easy for pup to retrieve, you won't be able to throw them too far and they won't bounce like a tennis or rubber balls do. The socks have an advantage of having your scent on them and can be easier for pup to find. Before you start using your dummy, carry it around for a few days or wipe some perspiration on it to give more scent than just your hands will. Have faith, your scent is critical later on.

The reason we are working with the dog is to avoid creating bad habits. There will be no "toss and hope." When your dog decides to run around you and see if you'll play the chase me game, there will be no yelling, no punishment or threat of punishment. To help you be successful, position yourself between the dog and the crate. Most likely, your dog will want to run to his "apartment" and play with the new prize. Catch him as he runs by. (A check cord can be helpful here.)

THROW the dummy a few feet (always underhand and always past the pup's eyes) say FETCH as he runs toward the dummy to pick it up. Then if needed, urge (NEVER YANK) him back toward you with the check cord. PRAISE the dog a lot as you say GIVE and take the dummy. If pup doesn't release the dummy, you can push it farther back in the mouth. He'll shove it out with his tongue.

If the pup isn't interested in the dummy, tie a cord to it and toss it again. If he runs toward it and then losses interest, give the dummy a yank. More than likely, he will pounce on it and then you can lure him back to you.

Some dog's interest can be peaked by dropping a tennis ball. It bounces, he tries to catch it, but bumps it with a clumsy puppy foot. The ball rolls farther, urging the pup to chase. Finally he grabs the ball and amazingly, you are both having fun.

For the play method to work, the sessions must remain fun. Don't make it work by overdoing. Practice a little play obedience and play fetch for a few minutes each, then quit. Enthusiastic pups can fetch six times, pups that get bored easily should only do two or three fetches. Remember puppy attention spans are very short. It is better to play train for five minutes several times a day than one marathon session. QUIT WHILE YOU ARE AHEAD , long before pup becomes bored.

Don't let yourself become angry while training, that will make pup dread your sessions together. No matter what happens, maintain the excited spirit of play. If you are saying sweet things through gritted teeth, your dog will know you are angry. If you don't have patience, take acting lessons so your dog won't suffer.

After your play session is over, take the pup back to the house or kennel. NO MORE PLAY OF ANY KIND. This play training is his play. He will look forward to play training and later to more serious training if he is never permitted aimless self-play outside the house or kennel. The dog's enthusiasm for your "play" will be enhanced so you will always have his attention. This will save an enormous amount of training time.

For dog training help, contact me.

Positive Basics

No matter what you are training, dogs, cats, horses, spouses, children, the basics are the same. To change behavior, change both how you interact and the timing of the interaction. Misbehaving should not illicit games, food, being let outside because this rewards the behavior you are seeking to change. Pay attention to good behavior and take that time to play, talk and treat or feed your pet then. Animals learn quickly what behavior gets rewarded, and will try to seek your approval.

Training today concentrates more on positive reinforcement which means you add something rewarding or pleasant to your pet's environment to increase the likelihood of getting a desired behavior. The other side of positive reinforcement is extinction, the removal of all positive reinforcement to decrease or extinguish the unwanted behaviors. (You may have seen this theory in school, think of Pavlov's Dogs, and your Psychology classes.)

Start thinking of punishment in a new light, consider it more like discipline and less like beating a red-headed stepchild. With all animal behavior issues there are three basic behavior modifications: reinforce the behavior you want to see when it happens; removing positive reinforcement and attention for the behavior you don't want to see when it happens; catching the animal in the act and startling them into quitting and then redirecting them to something more appropriate.

The positive approach to training seeks to teach animals without abusing them. As with any training method there are some guidelines to correction.

1. Do not punish/discipline/correct the dog after the fact. If you come home from work and pooch has eaten the dry wall, you have missed your chance. You need to see pooch committing the crime to correct the behavior.
2. Do not use pain or corporal punishment. If you inflict pain on your dog, you may create an aggressive dog that is more of a problem than the issues you were having.
3. Do not punish the dog by isolating them in the yard or stuffed into their crate / kennel / carrier away from interaction.
4. Do not jerk on a training collar (sometimes called a choke chain) to correct your dog. Training collars used incorrectly can cause permanent damage to you pet's windpipe, neck and spine. Learn how to use your collars correctly to avoid these issues. Using positive training methods teaches your pet your rules so they don't have an opportunity to invent their own rules.

Need help training your dog? Contact me.

Christmas Puppy

The Christmas PuppyIn the movies, a new puppy arrives all wrapped up in a colorful box with a bow and when the box is opened that pup whines, licks the new owner's face and everyone lives happily ever after.

Reality is rarely this magical. The puppy you saw and thought was the cutest thing to ever grace the Earth, may not be cute to the person receiving it. You may like Great Danes and your spouse or friend may prefer Chihuahuas. That new pup will need to be walked, fed and watched every instant on Christmas afternoon or there may be wet spots on the rug or new gifts are shredded all over the dining room. This makes the Christmas puppy an unappealing gift at best.

If you get an ugly outfit for Christmas and you hate it, you can always return it or regift it and get something you really wanted. This often happens with puppies too, except they end up at the local humane shelter in January. Clothing doesn't care, it can go back on the shelf and get sold again later and it's no problem, unwanted pets probably won't be so lucky.

Children especially do not need a Christmas puppy. Even if your child has been begging for a puppy, most young children have no idea of the commitment required to care for a puppy. The child's eyes will light up when they see the adorable puppy and there will be squeals of happiness, then the next gift will be opened. The puppy will need care and attention, but the new toys make noise and have lights that flicker. The puppy won't get the attention it deserves until the thrill of the other toys has worn off. Even then, most children are not able to handle the responsibility of a pet.

Let the person who is going to care for the new puppy or dog select the one that they really want. Your new best friend may be at the local shelter or in a breed rescue program. For this lifelong commitment to work, there must be a connection between the person and the dog. It is a personal thing. If you are set on a holiday puppy, wait until the gift wrap is gone and the ribbons are put away, then go select your new family member.

Selecting Your New Dog or Puppy

Things That Are Good to Know

AKC Registered and/or AKC Papers
The AKC (American Kennel Club) is a registry service, not a guarantee of quality. What registration papers tell you (in theory) is your new puppy or dog is the breed you are buying. That is all the papers mean. Registration papers are not a guarantee of quality or anything else. If the people you are buying your puppy from try and charge you extra for papers, RUN away from this deal. Charging extra for registration papers is against AKC rules. Report anyone trying this to the AKC . There are even some people that sell papers on a black market basis. You can contact AKC to check your papers.

How papers relate to the "real world." Papers are like the title to your vehicle. The title will tell you what type of vehicle you have, Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet. The title does not tell you it is a good special vehicle or that is worth more than any other vehicle. The title just tells you the vehicle you have is most likely the type that it says it is. Know what questions to ask your breeder about your new dog.

Color
Color is simply a genetic code. Is some breeds, diluted coat color can relate to other health issues like allergies and/or skin and coat problems. There are also breeds where color relates to more serious health problems. Study up on the breed you are interested in and know what issues can arise. Know what questions to ask your breeder about your new dog.

"Special" Ancestors
Do a little research into your breed. In any breed, many dogs can and do trace back to a common ancestor. Is the dog being touted a dog from recent breed history or are you looking at a name from 50+ years ago. Know what questions to ask your breeder about your new dog.

Price
If you look in the paper, you will see many dogs listed in the $100 dollar range. Remember the old saying, "You get what you pay for." These dogs are rarely a great deal.

Free to Good Home
This is frightening. Free dogs can end up anywhere. There are "harvesters" that travel around and pick up free puppies, kittens, dogs and cats. They can end up in research laboratories, as bait for dog fighting rings, or as breeders in a puppy mill.

Dogs as Gifts
Do not give a pet as a gift!

Championship Lines
There should be at least 4 dogs with titles in the first three generations. People that breed and show dogs will be proud to show you the photos, ribbons and trophies. A good breeder is breeding to improve the breed . Remember, just because the parents were "special" dogs doesn't mean all the pups will be special. Know what questions to ask your breeder about your new dog.

Show Quality
If you are searching for a puppy in the newspaper, you are most likely not purchasing a show quality pup. To a classified advertiser, the term show quality most likely means you are paying more money. For a puppy with the potential to be show quality, go to a breeder that is showing and breeding to help improve the breed. Know what questions to ask your breeder about your new dog.

Health Guarantee
As a general rule, this means the breeder will take back the unhealthy puppy and give you a replacement. Will the replacement be from the same litter? A repeat breeding? Will the replacement puppy have the same health problems? Now that you have had your puppy for a period of time and bonded with him, do you really want to know what will happen once you return him to the breeder? Good breeders have good guarantees. Know what questions to ask your breeder about health and temperament.

Educate Yourself
Learn as much as you can about the breed you are interested in. Know what questions to ask your breeder about your new dog. If you have found this page while considering a Chinook, you may want to know if a Chinook is right for you.

Finding Your Puppy or Dog
Find a reputable breeder. They won't be as "cheap" as a classified advertised puppy, but you will get more value for your money. Consider working with a breed rescue club and adopting an older dog.

Remember if you buy from a backyard breeder (someone who breeds without thinking or knowing why and/or how to improve the breed) or from a puppy mill (commercial breeding for the express purpose of making money) all you have done is padded someone's pocket and encouraged them to do it again.

If you are now asking yourself, "Where do I get a good puppy?" Start with the United Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club to learn more about breeds. You can also contact the national breed club to get more information and to locate a reputable breeder.

United Kennel Club (UKC)

American Kennel Club (AKC)